Lightning 15097 update (pics)

[Carl Simmons]

Well I never did send any pictures of my Lightning under sail so here they are!!!
(BTW, the Lightning is the Blue boat)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid117/p902fea028b96fc51959d2ae9d78956b6/f89ebb85.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid117/p3c54161eff6f068568c8e4e803ebeec3/f89ebb79.jpg

The first is us heading back from our Sunday Club races and the second is right after we entered the harbor. I'm still learning how to sail her especially since I have made some running rigging changes. I added a Cunningham and twartship traveler.

[Garrett Lowell]

She looks fast! How did the racing go? Did she have any surprises for you?

[Carl Simmons]

The boat sails great its the skipper who is slow. I am having a rough time figuring out the winds in lake sailing. Sailing in Maine was so much easier.

Carl.

[LightningJack]

Excuse me while I wipe the drool off of my keyboard. Mmm, a lightning under sail!
Beautiful boat, thanks for posting.

[Wild Wassa]

Originally posted by Carl Simmons:
"I am having a rough time figuring out the winds in lake sailing."

One thing I figured out quickly when I started inland sailing was, don’t go out to the laylines, not because it reduces the chances of catching or taking advantage of a shift ... just too many bull rushes around here.

The winds can be so tricky that you spend every day when you are not on the water, practicing by watching a blades of grass move and working out intercept angles ... with the lawnmover.

Wait until you return to the coast to race, you will clean up with your new found abilities, like being able to spot a darky on the water only 10cm square. A race on an inland lake might only give you one or two good puffs like that in 2 and a half hours, :D . You sure learn to find them and catch them otherwise that might be it, take a good book.

With the regattas that I participate in, on the different lakes, coast and inland, the absence of real local knowledge crucifies me. Then comes the 4th race in a regatta, I'm getting the hang of it, but I'm too weary to use my new found local knowledge.

Find the bullet.

Warren.

[ 05-26-2004, 07:25 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Paul Pless]

The winds can be so tricky that you spend every day when you are not on the water, practicing by watching a blades of grass move and working out intercept angles, ... with the lawn mover.
Seriously,

Is this why Australians are among the world's best dingy racers?

Paul

[Wild Wassa]

Paul, Dinghy racing is relatively cheap in Oz, a new Class A dinghy is affordable and very competitive from the start, second hand boats are a give away. The scope of competition is great ... and one can spend a year's salary on something really nice, and struggle against kids. The variety of boats is large, I think that there are over 80 dinghy and cat classes still sailed in Oz. Those sailors who don't class race, like myself, race in open handicap events, dinghies up to 16ft and cats to 18ft. The venues are good in south eastern Oz, our courses are Olympic style big, to tiny little sprint courses, like our home waters, it all adds to the excitement.

Racing with the Sea Scouts has been excellent. The fleets are 25+ locally to 100+ boats in places like Sydney.

The Scouts have good basic training boats to suit the kid's weights, and good competitive racing boats, which are bigger dinghies. The devastator still remains the 11ft Mirror dinghy, a training boat and a real nasty bit of work in a race. It is amazing when a Mirror beats a brand new expensive dinghy (on handicap) ... the looks on the faces. The kid's can fully participate against adults in their flash dinghies, while sailing in basic boats. The Scout's Dads are really competitive, many have new boats, and they like to travel a lot, and win. Aussies are competitive sportsman that is the underlying factor. It is part of our sporting heritage. I don’t know anyone who plays sport for fun.

Even though we don't race serious Class racing, Lake Ginninderra Sea Scouts, trains a lot, before and during the season, I'm sure we are just typical. Then there are the sailing clubs and the Australian Institute of Sport, with their full-on programs.

Nearly everyone that I know in sailing has an Australian Yachting Federation Certificate, varying levels of course. I think it also goes back to, how the kids learn to sail from day one.

Warren.

[ 05-26-2004, 08:28 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Paul Pless]

Warren,

What I meant, and it wasn't to be demeaning in any way, was you guys are passionate racers. This was evidenced in your post. I read a quote from Dale Earnhardt Sr. once, he said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that if you don't spend 50% of your waking moments concentrating on at least one thing, then your not passionate about it. He went on to say he spent about 90% of his waking moments thinking about winning and how to win automobile races!

Paul

[Wild Wassa]

Fully understood Paul, nor did I view it that way. Thankyou.

Passion not obsession I hope. I've planned my racing season, for next season, already. I'm also going to get half a dozen unplanned races in, before I start racing. I train three times a week still, speed work and fittness. I hope it is only a passion and not a regressive second childhood.

Warren.

ps, Yes, dinghy Dads are crazy.

[ 05-26-2004, 08:52 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]